By: Sulayman Lecturer Darboe
Episode on (1)
The village of Tendala
Tendala was a village prominently known as ‘the land of the brave’. It was bordered by four villages; Badala in the East, Dobalu in the North, Julabalu in the West and in the Southern part, lies a thick dense forest. It was a small village inhabited by lineages of diverse cultural backgrounds homogenously living together. In times of joy as in naming ceremonies, initiation of boys, wrestling and festivals; the village of Tendala was admired, loved and praised. The villagers came together during funerals to mourn and pay accolade to the deceased. The same happened when natural disasters befall in the community.
The village of Tendala had many families but the Nasso family was the most prominent. It was locally known by many as ‘Danolu’, meaning hunters. The Nasso family was of invaluable significance to Tendala and its neighboring villages. Mutton, horns, and hides and skins, were all products provided by the family.
Part of the great sons of the Nasso family was a dark-skinned and firmly built young man called KEKUTA NASSO. He had both the theoretical and practical knowledge of hunting. As a result of his numerous successes, his fellow hunters described him as a man born with good luck. For decades, he had been the most committed hunter in the village of Tendala. Kekuta did not look up to hunting as merely an occupation that provided his family with daily meals, but inclusively; a field that brought so much prestige to his family and lineage. As a result, he aggressively faced animals with courage just to ensure that the respect for his family was maintained.
Kekuta lived in a Bungalow with his grandfather, wife and children. Musukuta was the name of his wife. They happily got three children-one male and two females. The youngest was Duta, the only son of Kekuta . Maakuta and Sukuta were the female children. The name of Kekuta’s grandfather was Faaduta. He was old but wise and would do anything to protect Kekuta and the Nasso family. When Kekuta was young, Faaduta used to narrate stories of great hunters to his grandson. This inspired the young man whom many described as a man born with good luck, to develop passion for hunting and to ensure the continuity of the Nasso legacy.
Tendala had the following families; Nasso, Saidykhan, Fanneh, and Sandeng. Interestingly and harmoniously, respect of great magnitude was extended to the Nasso family. This was where Kekuta-the great hunter belonged. Like all human beings, Kekuta equally had friends. All of his friends were hunters. They were; Modou, Dodou, and Badou. Kekuta always loved them not merely as friends but as village mates. But to them, Kekuta was an enemy simply because, all the women wanted to be in his arms, the elders praised him and the great oracle of Tendala exalted him. In the presence of Kekuta, they pretentiously laughed, smiled and chat with him. In his absence, they wished evil and misfortune. It never interested Kekuta to find about the true nature of his friends until later in the story, when his grandfather and the great oracle of Tendala made a plan.
The great oracle of Tendala described the Nasso family as the family of the brave. Villagers argued that, it was because of the achievements and the role played by the family that Tendala was referred to as ‘the land of the brave’. In fact, would there be any Tendala without Kekuta’s family? This is still an unanswered question.
Episode two (2)
Kekuta went on a hunting trip
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